Exploring the Versality of Chewable Tablets: A Comprehensive Analysis

Abstract

Chewable dosage forms, such as tablets, soft pills, gums, and chewable squares, are essential components in a pharmacist's toolkit. They are designed to be broken and bitten between the teeth before administration, offering a solution for children struggling with swallowing and adults who find swallowing unpleasant. Chewable tablets are formulated to smoothly disintegrate in the mouth, either through chewing or without, characterized by a pleasant taste and a smooth texture upon disintegration, without any bitter or unpleasant aftertaste. These dosage forms are particularly valuable for geriatric and pediatric patients, as well as for individuals on the move who may not have immediate access to water. The formulation of chewable tablets involves critical factors such as flow, lubrication, disintegration, organoleptic properties, compressibility, compatibility, and stability. While these factors are shared with regularly swallowed tablets, the focus on the sensory aspects of the active drug substances, known as organoleptic properties, becomes a primary concern in chewable formulations. Formulators employ various approaches to achieve an optimal combination of formula and process, prioritizing the development of a product with favorable organoleptic properties. This emphasis on taste and texture makes chewable tablets a valuable option for enhancing medication adherence, particularly in populations facing challenges related to swallowing. In summary, chewable dosage forms play a vital role in addressing the diverse needs of patients, offering a user-friendly alternative for various age groups and situations. This comprehensive review paper explores the diverse landscape of chewable tablets, presenting a thorough examination of their advantages, disadvantages, ideal characteristics, formulation constituents, preparation techniques, and key evaluating various methods employed in the development of chewable tablets. Furthermore, it investigates the key pre-compression parameters such as Moisture content, angle of repose, Carr’s index etc, along with post-compression parameters including hardness, friability, thickness, disintegration, and dissolution etc.